AV Room Types

Lectern/Integrated Classrooms and Auditoria
Media-Plus Classrooms
Media-Basic Classrooms
VideoTeleconferencing Classrooms
Cart-supported Classrooms
Self-Service Classrooms

Lectern/Integrated Classrooms and Auditoria

Lectern-supported rooms and auditoria have full technological capability. AV equipment is manipulated via ergonomic touch screens that also control in-ceiling LCD projectors, motorized projection screens, ceiling-mounted speakers, and DVD/VCR players, plus Windows XP PCs. In-room help phones can be used for on-campus assistance. Lighting controls are provided on the lecterns and most touchpanels. Using the lecterns' counter-top interface, presenters can connect laptop computers or other compatible audio-visual source equipment to LCD projector and/or audio system. There are both a wireless lavalier microphone and wireless handheld microphone available, and most rooms have assisted-listening capability.

Media-Plus Classrooms

Media-Plus rooms have an LCD projector, projection screen, in-ceiling speakers, and an audio-visual wallbox containing a combination DVD/VCR player. The DVD/VCR player's housing can serve as a mini-table for portable source equipment such as a laptop computer. A help phone is provided to dial campus numbers for assistance. Lighting controls are provided on the wallbox for your convenience. Using the wallbox or front-of-room interface that exist in many of the Media-Plus classrooms, a presenter can connect up his/her own laptop computer or other compatible audio-visual source equipment to the provided LCD projector and/or audio system. Please be sure to bring all connection cables, power adapters and cords, and an Ethernet network cable (RJ-45) if you desire to connect your computer equipment to the USC network and Internet. (See our FAQ page for more information on the Media-Plus rooms.)

AV Wallbox in a Media-Plus room

Note: Example here of a laptop is shown to demonstrate just one possible use for the fold-down table. The laptop is NOT included in the equipment list for a Media-Plus room. For a suggested list of items to bring along with your laptop or other source equipment, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Media-Basic Classrooms

Media-Basic rooms have an LCD projector, projection screen, in-ceiling speakers, on-wall interface connector plate, and a help phone for dialing 5-digit campus numbers for assistance. Using the on-wall interface, a presenter can connect his/her own source equipment such as a laptop computer, DVD/VCR player, MP3 player, digital camera, or any other compatible audio-visual (source) device to the provided LCD projector and/or audio system. Please be sure to bring all necessary audio and video connection cables, power adapters / power cords, and an Ethernet network (RJ-45) cable (if you intend to connect your laptop computer to the USC network and Internet via the room's wall jack). (See our FAQ page for more information on the Media-Basic rooms.)

VideoTeleconferencing Classrooms

Video Teleconferencing capability in Seaver Science Library (SSL-150) is possible through a Polycom VSX 8000 Videoconferencing unit for IP and ISDN videoconferencing connections (up to 4 participating locations via a built-in bridge) and an integrated audioconferencing system when video is not a requirement. The room's equipment is manipulated via an ergonomically fitted AMX Touchscreen that controls all audio-visual and lighting systems, in-ceiling LCD projector, motorized projection screen, ceiling-mounted speakers, and audio-visual podium-based DVD/VCR player, and Windows XP PC. A help phone is provided to dial campus extensions for assistance. Lighting controls are provided on the podium and touchpanel for your convenience. Using the podium's counter-top interface, a presenter can connect his/her own laptop computer or other compatible audio-visual source equipment to the provided LCD projector and/or audio system. Computer presentations can be displayed in the auditorium and to remote locations via videoconferencing as can VHS and DVD videos. There are both a wireless lavalier microphone and wireless handheld microphone available. The room has assisted listening capability similar to other ITS-managed auditoria.

Please be sure to bring all connection cables, power adapters and cords if you will use your own laptop computer or other AV devices with the room's built-in systems.

Cart-supported Classrooms

Cart-supported classrooms contain no permanently affixed equipment other than the lighting controls, projection screen (pulldown or motorized), and a network jack that will support ITS-maintained computer carts exclusively. A PC or Mac cart, if available for reservation, will be set up and picked up by an ITS Multimedia Team Member within 10 minutes of the start and conclusion of published class times.

It is the responsibility of the instructor who reserved the computer cart to notify the multimedia site office that supplied the cart if there are changes to these stated times. Since the instructor's department is held accountable for loss of equipment, the instructor should return the computer cart and equipment if the class finishes ahead of schedule or is cancelled too late for there to be proper notification for the attending multimedia site office. All other AV equipment, such as DVD/VCR players & TV carts, 35mm slide projectors, overhead (transparency) projectors, portable audio systems and cabling, is reserved and offered through a will-call system and should be checked out and returned by instructors and TAs at the attending AV site office supporting the room.

Please be aware that the number of rooms that rely on carts for AV support surpasses the number of available carts. At the busiest times of the year, the demand for AV equipment can exceed the number of carts available in a given building. In such cases, requesters might receive a denied-reservation e-mail. All AV equipment is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to minimize damage to the equipment, carts and their equipment may only be utilized within their assigned building and classrooms. It is to your advantage to place your request for AV equipment as far in advance of your need as is possible. (See our FAQ page for more information on cart-based services.)

Self-Service Classrooms

Self-Service classrooms each contain an Internet connection, power outlets, and a 8'x6' pulldown projection screen. Faculty should register their personal laptops for use on the USC network before connecting them to the network in any of the self-service classrooms. Please remember to bring all necessary cables, power adapters and cords for your equipment. If you haven't reserved one of these self-service rooms, please have your department's Classroom Scheduling Coordinator contact Classroom Scheduling. See our reservation page for more information.

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Last updated: Thursday, November 05, 2009, 16:11PM PST